For week four we are reading some interesting articles about the history of writing, data collecting, and manuscripts. As I read through the first article, I found it fascinating how far we truly have come in communication in various forms. Things such as knot records and notches are so primitive yet very clever for the time period. We as a human race new if there was a will there was a way in terms of complete writing and we made due with what knowledge we had. I also found it fascinating to think of how far mnemonics went back in time. When I think of mnemonics, I think of mnemonic devices such as “I before E, excepts after C” or “double the D, double the S, and you will always have success.” But back in times of Homo erectus, mnemonic devices were just notches on stones and trees that acted as information storage. Another thing that comes to mind while reading this article is how visual the information had to be recorded in order for it to be understood. Now of course this is how it had to be done in the early era of the history of writing, but I find it interesting that now in modern times, many of us need simplified visuals to really get the information we desire locked in our minds.

Adding “if there’s a will, there’s a way mentioned above, the human race eventually needed a way to preserve and distribute newly collected information in a tangible form. This leads us to manuscripts and the production of physical books. After reading this article, I feel that we as a society really take for granted how far we have come in terms of book production. There were so many factors to consider when putting together books 700 years ago. Things such as paper type, paper price, inventory of materials, and writing errors were crucial factors in book production. Sure these are things publishing companies factor in today’s printing processes, but back 700 years ago, this information was make it or break. It was a lot more difficult to fix errors in book production back in those times.

Rushkoff’s last 4 commands of program or be programmed are very important to someone living in contemporary times and those who fall into the digital divide. Rushkoff’s 7th command is Social. If a person is without digital media, they are not exposed to digital bias. “Digital media is still bias towards the social.” (Rushkoff 96). Those without computers don’t experience bias at all. The 8th command is Fact. The internet is what separates fact from fiction. You can make any claim you want online, but in a matter of time, it will be proven true or false by internet users. Without a computer, it is much harder to lie. People can read you easier face-to-face. This is also where society fails. We rely so much on the internet that having a face-to-face conversation can be quite challenging. The 9th command is Openness. The sharing of internet files is impossible without a computer. Rushkoff states that “Digital networks were built for the purpose of sharing resources, technologies, and credit on order to create it.” (Rushkoff 118). Sharing becomes very limited. The possibilities of sharing are endless if you have a computer and internet access. The 10th command is Program or be Programmed. Rushkoff says that “we must learn how to make the software, or risk becoming the software.” (Rushkoff 134). If someone does not contribute to the creation of software, that person becomes the software. There would be nothing going on that would involve a person in the software creating process.

Although I found going one day without using the internet quite easy, I don’t think I could go without it too much longer. There are definitely some things I could go longer without using the internet for than others. Facebook is something I could go longer than a day without using. Although Facebook keeps me connected to my friends quickly and efficiently, there is nothing on Facebook that requires attention 24/7. Youtube is another site that I could give up for awhile. It is one of my favorite sites, but it’s only for entertainment. One problem I would eventually have if I gave up internet access is accessing homework for my college classes. In today’s world, I internet access has become a necessity for most people. It’s how we apply for jobs. It’s how we find housing. It’s how we book vacations! Communication is also a critical part of the internet. Without internet, most of these tasks would have to be completed through the use of a telephone or by mail. While these solutions aren’t difficult or inefficient, they are becoming more obsolete as time goes by. Having no access to internet would be labeled as a “first world problem.” We as a Americans that thrive in an industrialized nation would probably fall off the deep end if the internet was cut off for good, but developing nations that don’t have internet access wouldn’t be affected at all. I think it would be interesting how America would react if there was no internet access for one day.

The creation of social media is truly a remarkable thing. Never before have people around the world been able to connect to one another so quickly and efficiently. The creation of social networking sites such as facebook, twitter, myspace, and various blogging sites (such as this one) have done so much more than just allow people to socialize online. “Social Networking gives us unprecedented power to share our stories with more people than we ever imagined.” (Zandt pg. 159). Through these social networking sites, people around the world can let others into their minds. People have the opportunity to let it all out there. These social networking sites are essentially public diaries. We live in a world that is full of social issues that need attention. These issues can be greatly publicized through social media. Along with the social issues come mass amounts of public opinions on the issues. This is where people truly get to know what type of person you are. Although putting your opinions out there for the world to see may spark a lot of debate (a lot of times negative), it can also do a lot of good for society. By bringing social issues to the public eye, we as a whole can produce ideas that can help resolve these issues. The potential for this to occur happens through social media. Facebook and blogging sites connect you with people that share your common interests and opinions. It is said that great minds think alike but they can also change the world.

The world has truly been blessed with the internet. The number one blessing that comes from the internet is the freedom of online information. Think back to the times before the internet. Where did people get all of their information from? They got them from books! But things definitely changed when essentially all the information in the world became available through a computer. The internet allows you to obtain infinite knowledge. But along with the freedom of online information, a stereotypical false claim started to arise. Claims such as, “I know I’m right. I read it on the internet” has become a way of justifying our answers. The obvious problem with this is that not everything you read on the internet is legit. Have you ever come across an advertisement or headline about health remedies or celebrity gossip? Things like this are read online daily and millions of people believe it! But shouldn’t they? The information came from the internet, right? We might be absorbing false information and not even knowing it. Another negative part of online information fake personal information. There are people that completely spill all their personal information to people via social networking. But sometimes, the person you think you are talking to really isn’t who they say they are. This can lead to many problems down the road (some being dangerous such as abduction). The freedom of online information in many cases really is “too good to be true.” Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.

Media can drastically change how a person is viewed. It is said by Coleman that “Media use changes the user. With each shift in automation, simulation, and transmission, we discover not only new technologies but also new facets of ourselves.” (140) Media devices and social networking have created barriers that users can hide behind and produce a completely different personality. Think about when you are texting someone. Do you always say things that you would normally say to a person face to face? The sad reality is most people would answer “no” to this question. You could come off as a completely different person through a text message than through face to face communication. Many don’t think before they send text messages. They feel there is no risk in sending a message because you can’t feel the recipient’s full emotion in response to your words. In many circumstances, this is the only way people feel comfortable communicating with one another and I feel this where we as a society are failing. We are living in a media dependent world and face to face communication is becoming scarce. Another example of how media can change the user is through sites like facebook. You can essentially be anyone you want to be on facebook. Your personal information and pictures you post may not even be yours yet people will still believe it because there is no physical communication. Without the use of media like facebook and texting, communication for many would be much more difficult. Media can truly change a person.

It is safe to say that everyone has heard the story of Little Red Riding Hood. But have you ever experienced the story in a New Media type of way? By turning Little Red Riding hood into a piece of electronic literature the story is experienced in a whole new way. Dona Leishman’s work “Redridinghood” tells the story in new way by allowing the reading to interact with the text. By showing a lot of animations and using sounds, this electronic literature piece essentially makes the reader interpret the story in the way the author wants it. By reading the print version of the story, your mind can interpret what the setting and characters “might” look like. In Leishman’s version, the characters such as the wolf are animated for you. The music also adds to the overall vibe of the story. This supports McLuhan’s claim that “the extension of any one sense alters the way we think and act the way we perceive the world” (McLuhan pg. 41). I feel that electronic literature is becoming more and more accepted in today’s world. It is arguable that the new media can never replace classic stories such as Little Red Riding Hood. There are always going to be those die hard people that will only read print versions of classics. But this new media is not created to “replace.” It is created rather to “enhance” the story or to give it a different feel. Print books will one day be a thing of the past, but new media will keep their stories alive.

“Unlike a print book, electronic text literally cannot be accessed without running code” (Halyes). With this quote in mind, I feel that “Shy Boy” by Thomas Swiss is an accurate example a work that is “born digital.” There are many reasons why authors create digitally born works. In terms of “Shy Boy,” the reason is to evoke specific emotions. Swiss uses text animation such as fading and bold facing to set the immediate tone of the piece. The music that is used in the piece also affects the mood. Electronic literature like “Shy Boy” tends to break the mold of traditional still text such as a printed book or newspaper. By using text animation and sounds, electronic literature keeps the reader’s attention and connects with the reader more efficiently. The text in “Shy Boy” continues on with or without the reader and creates excitement. In a printed piece of literature, the plain text doesn’t ever movie or produce sound. It may provoke inner thought in emotion, but only if the reader continues to pay attention to the text. The reader’s mind can wander off at anytime and lose the connection. Electronic literature uses many tricks to keep your attention. For a piece of work to be labeled as “digitally born,” the work is created digitally. It cannot be reproduced in a physical form. That is another reason why “Shy Boy” is a great example. Electronic literature may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I feel that it really allows the reader to connect to the piece of work.

The idea for this project came from my friend and me messing around with our Mortal Kombat characters. We would be listening to music while we played the game and make our characters jump to the music. I thought it would be fun idea. To record the game play, I routed the RCA cable from the Nintendo 64 through an RCA splitter and then into a camcorder. Then I turned on some techno music and my friend and I moved our characters to the music to resemble dancing. I then took the good footage and uploaded it to Windows Movie Maker and added the music. The point I am making is that music can drastically affect the vibe you get from a video game. If you’ve played Mortal Kombat, you know that dancing is the polar opposite of the point of the game. A normally dark and violent game can be turned into a humorous dance party by simply adding the right music and moving your character to the beat. Through the process of creating this video, the subjects of “fair use” and “copyright” were on my mind. I would be questioning myself if what I was producing was copyright infringement or fair use. I learned that my video was indeed fair use because it does not have an “affect on the value of copyrighted work” (copyright). I used footage from Mortal Kombat for reasons of tribute because it is one of my favorite games. I also learned a lot about Windows Movie Maker.